October 26, 2011

Major Changes


As some of you may have been able to tell, there have been a few small changes around here in the past week or so. A new header, a few little design tweaks, but nothing much. Well, for several months now I've been contemplating making some major changes around here...such as changing the name of this blog. I've made lists of possible ideas, but nothing really stood out to me. While working on the new header, I was trying to come up with some ideas. "Treasuring Today" came to mind, and it really seemed to stick.

I've been running it through my mind a lot lately, and I've decided to go with the name change. Don't get me wrong, I like the name Beautiful Gems, but it just doesn't have as much meaning to me now that this is a personal blog and not for the magazine it was originally started for.

As I said in my last post, I want to treasure the blessings that the Lord has given me. It's so easy to focus on the things we don't have rather than the things that we do, but I want to treasure today for it truly is a gift from the Lord! "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalms 118:24)

So be prepared for some major changes around here. Sometime in early to mid November I'll be switching from "Beautiful Gems" to "Treasuring Today"! Same girl...same blog...same web address...just a new name. At first the design may stay pretty much the same (even the header if I'm pressed for time...), but I'm hoping to do some bigger blog design changes when I get around to it.


Just in case I don't get the time to do another post in the next week, I thought I'd let you know that my family is going on vacation and will be gone November 2nd-6th, so any comments you leave during that time will not be published until I'm home. And maybe...just maybe...the follower count will be at 100 when I get back...

October 19, 2011

Treasure today

Treasure those moments...


Treasure the smiles...


Treasure the family time...


Treasure the sisters...


Treasure the beauty...


Treasure the friends...


Treasure the sunshine...



Treasure today...it's a gift from God.


October 17, 2011

Fresh Salsa...

...the perfect snack on a lovely autumn day.


A lovely array of colors...


...mixed with a fresh-from-the-garden flavor and the crunch of tortilla chips.


And I'll have to say, it's pretty photogenic too!



Now that I have you craving fresh, homemade salsa, I should probably give you the recipe, right? Not only does it look (and taste!) delicious, it's also really easy to make!


- Fresh Salsa -

4 cups tomatoes (cubed)
2 cloves garlic (pressed)
1 onion (chopped)
1 green pepper (chopped)
1 tsp cilantro
2 tsp sugar
2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp vinegar
1 T taco seasoning or cumin and paprika

Mix everything together in a large bowl, adding more or less of ingredients to suit taste. 
If you want, you can then pulse it in a food chopper to desired consistency.

Then, pull out a bag of tortilla chips and enjoy!!



October 5, 2011

Great is His love



"For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let your glory be over all the earth."
Psalms 57:10-11